Bulawayo Councillors Walk Out Over Corrupt Chair

The recent council meetings in Bulawayo have revealed significant tensions regarding leadership and governance. The situation centers on Deputy Mayor Ndlovu, who faces bribery charges but remains technically in office. This has created procedural and ethical challenges for council operations.

The key events can be broken down as follows:

1. During a recent council session, several councillors staged a protest walkout when Deputy Mayor Ndlovu attempted to chair an in-committee meeting. Nine councillors left immediately after the opening prayer, joining five others who had already declined to attend.
2. The timing of Ndlovu's participation is notable. He avoided the full council meeting but appeared specifically to chair the in-committee session, exercising his authority as acting mayor in Mayor Coltart's absence (who was attending the African Investment Forum in Morocco).

The Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, has clarified two critical procedural points:

First, the succession protocol follows a strict hierarchical order when both mayor and deputy mayor are absent:

• Finance and Development Committee chair ranks first
• Environmental Management and Engineering Services Committee chair ranks second
• Health, Housing and Education Committee chair follows
• Town Lands and Planning Committee chair comes next
• Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee chair ranks last

Second, and crucially, councillors cannot elect a new Deputy Mayor unless there is a permanent vacancy caused by death, suspension, or dismissal. This ruling effectively halts efforts by some councillors who had begun positioning themselves to replace Ndlovu.

The underlying tension stems from corruption allegations. Ndlovu and Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo (Finance and Development Committee chair) face charges of soliciting a US$20,000 bribe from Labenmon Investments regarding a cement mixing plant approval.

The Town Clerk's clarification establishes clear administrative procedures, particularly regarding temporary versus permanent vacancies. This distinction proves essential for maintaining operational continuity while respecting legal requirements under the Urban Councils' Act (Chapter 29:15).